The Energy Transition in Trinidad & Tobago

Trinidad and Tobago’s energy transition is shaped by its status as the Caribbean’s largest oil and gas producer, presenting both unique challenges and opportunities in shifting toward cleaner energy. The country’s energy mix remains dominated by natural gas, used for both domestic power generation and liquefied natural gas (LNG) exports, while renewable energy currently accounts for only a small fraction of electricity generation. However, national policies, including the National Development Strategy (Vision 2030), the National Energy Policy, and commitments under the Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs), outline plans to increase renewable energy capacity to 30% by 2030, with solar PV and wind as priority technologies. The Trinidad and Tobago Electricity Commission (T&TEC) and the Ministry of Energy and Energy Industries oversee energy regulation and grid management, with recent tenders for large-scale solar projects signalling initial momentum. While Trinidad and Tobago has an active mining sector producing asphalt and industrial minerals, it does not mine key critical minerals such as lithium, cobalt, nickel, or rare earth elements, and remains reliant on imports for these materials needed for renewable technologies and storage systems. Core challenges include policy delays, grid modernisation needs, financing hurdles, and balancing the transition with the economic weight of hydrocarbons. However, opportunities lie in scaling renewables, leveraging gas-to-hydrogen technologies, and regional leadership through energy innovation and carbon reduction strategies. Trinidad and Tobago’s resource wealth, industrial capacity, and growing policy commitment in the Caribbean’s broader clean energy transition.